Four Main Worldviews

1. Four Main Worldviews

2. Worldviews worldview – a way of thinking, feeling and acting about life a secular (or non-religious) view evolved from historical movements

3. Cosmocentric worldview – “nature, universe centred” • nature is alive with spirit • all life is dependent on nature, environment • everything is part of a web of life • Paganism, aboriginal spirituality/communities have this view • Eastern traditions – everything is connected (past/present, community (individualism is not a priority), karma, dharma) – animal rights

4. Theocentric worldview – “God centred” • life comes from a loving, wise, all-powerful God • life’s purpose is to know God • People are created in God’s image and we are co-creators • Society needs values that benefit all creation; and are pleasing to God (Golden rule, natural law) • all religions fit into this worldview in some way

5. Anthropocentric worldview – “human centred” • human lives and communities are central • modern worldviews, including most religious ones =anthropocentric • e.g. humanism – humans have worth and freedom (combines with both secular and religious values) – based on Greek and Roman thought “reborn” in the Renaissance • Respect, knowledge, free will are key to improving world • The best human creations/values lead to the common good

6. Anthropocentric worldview – “human centred” Western religions fit the anthropocentric view: Charity is highly regarded/obligatory (tzedakah, zakat, corporal works of mercy) Ethic of Reciprocity (Golden Rule) Views correspond with laws of gov’ts Community relationships, worship– different view than Indian religions Scripture-based religions – knowledge, religious education a high priority

7. Secular worldview • secular means “time” or “age” – believes in the values of the present time, no concern for eternity • actively opposed to religion– think it denies humans’ power • there is no divine creator or purpose – nothing is sacred • emphasis on progress of society and economics • nature is only matter - meets human needs • humans are self-sufficient - no need for God • values are created by humans and are relative – no absolute right/wrong

8. Some of the backstory…“The next 10 years will be very unlike the last 10 years”

9. How did secularism arise? Scientific discovery (Copernicus, Newton, Galileo)– late 15th c., navigation, math, astronomy – challenged previously-held religious beliefs Printing press – new theories spread rapidly Deism – “clock and clockmaker” The Enlightenment – 17th-18th c., rationalism (universe could be understood without religion) Voltaire – Deist, believed religion was superstitious, held humans back

10. How did secularism arise? Skepticism toward religion arose in this period Industrial revolution – 18th-19th c. – led to urbanization (move to cities - loss of connection to nature) Atheistic views – arose in the 19th c, attacked the theocentric view as a creation of the human mind Karl Marx – witnessed oppression of class system, called religion the “opiate of the masses” – kept the poor ignorant and submissive. Writings borrowed from his Jewish heritage. Introduced communism.

11. How did secularism arise? Friedrich Nietzsche – saw religion as immature, keeping people weak. “God is dead” Sigmund Freud – studied human psyche, concluded that religion is based on a childish need to obey (“father figure”). Charles Darwin – made no statements about religion, but his theory of evolution was seen a challenge to religion – saw God as “the ultimate lawgiver” – qualified the survival of the fittest

12. Responses to Secularism Three modern developments have come out of the pushing aside of traditional worldviews: dominance of secular culture (3 defining features) reaction of religious fundamentalism rise of cults, sects, new age mov’ts.

13. 3 defining features of the secular view • values of secularism at its worst are (Trafford, pp 33-35): • Individualism • self over all others – competition, less compassion, common good? • needs are met at expense of others’ needs - survival of the fittest • Consumerism • personal appearance and material goods are most important • objects provide status, happiness and worth • instant gratification, leisure time spent shopping. • creates poverty, environmental destruction, self-absorption, meaninglessness  • Moral relativism • No absolute morals • Responsibility and duty are not values worth considering -success is the measure • apply this to sexuality, technology, social justice, peace

14. Consumerism – “the story of stuff” and “the high price of materialism” Cultural Dimension (me or we)